Overview
Title
Agency Information Collection Request; 60-Day Public Comment Request
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The National Endowment for the Humanities wants people to say what they think about a plan where filling out forms to ask for money might take more time than before, and they want to know if this extra time is really needed or if there’s a better way to do it.
Summary AI
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is asking for public comments on a proposed change to their information collection process, in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This change updates the burden estimates for NEH grant applications, adjusting the total estimated time required from 88,815 to 296,433 hours due to more precise calculations of the time needed to prepare applications, which has increased from 15 to 60 hours per proposal. The NEH invites comments on the necessity and effectiveness of these changes, and responses need to be submitted by March 29, 2021.
Abstract
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) is seeking comment concerning a proposed revision to an existing information collection that it uses to solicit grant applications, recruit peer reviewers, and monitor the performance of recipients.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document in question, issued by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), focuses on soliciting public feedback concerning proposed changes to its information collection process. This action is part of compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and primarily involves revising the burden estimates associated with NEH grant applications. A significant change highlighted in this document is the adjustment of the estimated time required to complete a grant application, which has dramatically increased from 15 to 60 hours per proposal.
General Summary
The NEH is revising its procedures for collecting information related to grant applications, peer reviews, and recipient performance monitoring. As part of the revision, they aim to adjust the overall burden estimate from 88,815 to 296,433 hours. This new estimate accounts for a detailed assessment of the time required by stakeholders to complete grant applications. The NEH is actively seeking comments from the public to gauge the necessity and potential effectiveness of these proposed revisions. Any feedback must be submitted before the deadline of March 29, 2021.
Significant Issues or Concerns
One of the key issues with the document is the lack of clarity regarding the substantial increase in the estimated total burden hours. The leap from 88,815 to 296,433 hours is quite substantial and warrants deeper explanation beyond the stated increase in time required to complete each proposal. This increase is attributed to more precise calculations but lacks sufficient detail on how these calculations were made or the factors influencing such a substantial change.
Additionally, the document does not provide specific data or examples that might support these changes, such as the methodology used or any benchmarks that informed these updated estimates. This lack of transparency can impede understanding and acceptance of the changes by stakeholders and the general public.
Furthermore, the section addressing ways to minimize the burden on respondents does not offer concrete suggestions or alternatives. Mentioning potential technological solutions or streamlined processes could help stakeholders understand how the NEH plans to reduce the burden of grant application processes.
Impact on the Public
Broadly, this document could impact the public, especially those involved in applying for NEH grants. Stakeholders who include applicants, peer reviewers, and recipients of NEH funding might face an increase in administrative burdens due to the revised estimate of time commitment. For the public more generally, such changes could affect the richness and diversity of projects supported by the NEH if potential applicants are deterred by the increased time requirements.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For applicants, the increase in estimated time might mean dedicating more resources and effort to the application process, potentially impacting smaller organizations or individuals who have limited capacity. Reviewers also could be affected by a more involved evaluation process, which might require more time to assess each application thoroughly.
Conversely, the NEH might argue that a more detailed application process could lead to better-prepared proposals, hence improving the quality of funded projects. However, without more clarity and justification, stakeholders may view these changes as overly burdensome, potentially discouraging participation and limiting the breadth of submissions.
The NEH's call for public comments provides an opportunity for stakeholders to express concerns, suggest improvements, and ensure that any changes to the information collection process are both necessary and practical. By engaging in this feedback process, stakeholders can help shape a process that is both efficient and effective in achieving the NEH's objectives.
Issues
• The document does not provide a clear justification for the increase in estimated total burden hours from 88,815 to 296,433, which is a significant increase and requires further explanation.
• The change in estimated time per response from fifteen hours to sixty hours for completing a grant application needs more detailed explanation to understand the factors influencing this increase.
• There is a lack of specific examples or data to support the claimed changes and calculations, such as the methodology or any benchmarks used, which could help in understanding the accuracy of the estimates.
• The section on minimizing the burden of the information collection on respondents lacks concrete suggestions or alternatives, such as potential technological solutions or streamlining forms, which could reduce respondent burden.